NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Decomposition of Alternative Chirality Amino Acids by Alkaliphilic Anaerobe from Owens Lake, CaliforniaThe study of alkaliphilic microbial communities from anaerobic sediments of Owens and Mono Lakes in California led to the isolation of a bacterial strain capable of metabolizing amino acids with alternative chirality. According to the phylogenetic analysis, the anaerobic strain BK1 belongs to the genus Tindallia; however, despite the characteristics of other described species of this genus, the strain BK1 was able to grow on D-arginine and Dlysine. Cell morphology of this strain showed straight, motile, non-spore-forming rods with sizes 0.45 x 1.2-3 microns. Physiological characteristics of the strain showed that it is catalase negative, obligately anaerobic, mesophilic, and obligately alkaliphilic. This isolate is unable to grow at pH 7 and requires CO3 (2-) ions for growth. The strain has chemo-heterotrophic metabolism and is able to ferment various proteolysis products and some sugars. It plays the role of a primary anaerobe within the trophic chain of an anaerobic microbial community by the degradation of complex protein molecules to smaller and less energetic molecules. The new isolate requires NaCl for growth, and can grow within the range of 0.5-13 %, with the optimum at 1 % NaCl (w/v). The temperature range for the growth of the new isolate is 12-40 C with optimum at 35 C. The pH range for the growth of strain BK1 occurs between 7.8 and 11.0 with optimum at 9.5. This paper presents detailed physiological characteristics of the novel isolate from Owens Lake, a unique relic ecosystem of Astrobiological significance, and makes an accent on the ability of this strain to utilize L-amino acids.
Document ID
20090034256
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Townsend, Alisa
(National Space Science and Technology Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Pikuta, Elena V.
(National Space Science and Technology Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Guisler, Melissa
(National Space Science and Technology Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Hoover, Richard B.
(National Space Science and Technology Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
August 2, 2009
Subject Category
Exobiology
Report/Patent Number
M09-0588
Meeting Information
Meeting: SPIE Optics + Photonics Conference
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: August 1, 2009
End Date: August 6, 2009
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available